FD can't stop No. 10 Dowling

August 29, 2012

The Fort Dodge volleyball team was greeted rather unruly by 10th-ranked (Class 5A) Dowling for their home opener Tuesday night.

The Maroons claimed a clean sweep, winning games by scores of 25-13, 25-18 and 25-16 inside a hot FDSH gym.

Fort Dodge (4-6 overall) was unable to keep up with Dowling from the start, as the Maroons reeled off a series of points to strike first, ending things with an ace.

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"We didn't do a good job of adapting to what (Dowling) was doing," FDSH head coach Toni Cochrane said. "We need to learn from that first game and adjust, but we just didn't communicate and do that (Tuesday night)."

A taller front line helped the Maroons control the tempo, as Dowling ran out to a 20-13 lead in the second. The Dodgers made a rally, cutting the deficit to 22-18, but that would be as close as they would get.

"Dowling's setter was very good, and they played a different style of offense," Cochrane said. "They are a very solid team and they showed that (Tuesday)."

Five straight Fort Dodge points in the third made it a 12-10 score, but Dowling answered right back. After making it 14-13, the Maroons would tally 11 of the final 14 points and earn the victory.

Tiana Mericle led the Dodgers with five kills, while Lexi Astor added four. All total, Fort Dodge had just 14 kills in the three games.

Mariah Welter had two blocks, Astor recorded three digs and Maddie Egli managed five assists for the Dodgers, who play at Waukee next Tuesday.

"We need to make more plays," Cochrane said. "We just didn't have enough playmakers out on the court, and Dowling did."

The Fort Dodge junior varsity lost, 25-8, 25-21; the sophomores were defeated, 25-16, 25-12; the freshman A team lost 25-27, 25-12, 15-11; and the B was swept 25-21, 25-8.